Frankly, I haven’t had the chance to fully dig into Havoc’s new album, 13 just yet, however, I have listened to the standout single “Favorite Rap Stars” over, and over, and over again. The track is even better if you also recognize the sample used by Cage, Mr. Eon & Mighty Mi, collectively known as the Smut Peddlers on “One By One,” as featured on their 2001 release of Porn Again. Consider a Rawkus classic by many, “One By One” found group producer DJ Mighty Mi lifting an absolutely filthy sample from Lyn Christopher’s “Take Me With You.” Taking the aforementioned into consideration, we thought it would be fitting for “Favorite Rap Stars” to serve as the focus of this week’s edition of #FridayFlips. Our co-pilot Steez sits this one out, but we get a rather insightful and nostalgic contribution from DJ Concept of The Bash Brothers, who recants some of his own experiences of the first time he heard both “One By One” and Christopher’s classic sample..

Last Thursday, April 25 2013 marked the 18th anniversary of Mobb Deep‘s sophomore album The Infamous, arguably one of Hip-Hop’s most prized possessions. That said, the Takin’ Mines massive thought a track by track review of their Loud debut would be quite fitting for today’s edition of Rewind Wednesdays. Joining us on our review are Robbie from Unkut, and Doug Cohen of Flud Watches.. hit the jump.

The Infamous was a soundtrack for a new era of anti-social, hardcore Hip-Hop, driven by Havoc’s accomplished sampling techniques, tight drum programming and bleak moods, and the heartless microphone techniques of Prodigy at his most ruthless. Outstanding assists from Q-Tip, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, and Nas made it clear that this was “the realness” personified, in terms of cutting edge street music for 1995. -Robbie, Unkut

If you’ve managed to get this far during the week, you probably deserve a break. And what good timing to introduce Greg Grease‘s latest video for “Forward”, a stripped down, less-is-more banger that doesn’t need to be overdramatic to get it’s point across. Directed by Adam Dunn as a part of his #LABB (Lights and a Backdrop) series, the visuals are as minimalistic as it gets, allowing the Grease, his DJ and his turntable to play centre stage. Check it out and be sure to pick up Greg Grease’s Black King Cole EP if you don’t already own it.